Finish in sight for road widending scheme

Completion of a major road widening scheme in South Ribble will move a step closer if new plans are given the green light next week.

A report on widening the A582 from the Stanifield Lane/Lostock Lane roundabout up to the Broad Oak roundabout next to Booths supermarket in Penwortham, will go before cabinet members of Lancashire County Council on Monday, September 14.

The plans would mean the entire length of the A582 from the M65 to Preston city centre would be a dual carriageway.

If the cabinet members approve the report, the council will be in a position to progress a planning application and start assembling the land needed to widen the road. An application is expected to be submitted in early 2017.

Phill Wilson, City Deal project manager, said: “The plans to widen this section of the A582 will improve the local road network, increasing capacity, cutting journey times and helping people to get around more easily.

“We held a six-week public consultation exercise earlier this year on the proposed improvements. We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to give their views.”

The proposal involves building a new bridge over the West Coast Mainline and also making a dual carriageway of the B5253 section of Flensburg Way from the roundabout close to the county council’s Household Waste Recycling Centre near Longmeanygate.

Phase one of the A582 widening scheme, to improve the junction of Chainhouse Lane in Whitestake, was completed in November 2014. Widening of Golden Way, Penwortham, from Cop Lane towards Preston, was completed in March, but work on the same road from Cop Lane to the Broadoak roundabout is currently held-up while talks are held with nearby landowners .